Mr. coldie

Chapter 24

The next morning, Jungkook was the first to wake up. As his eyes fluttered open, he found Taehyung sleeping peacefully on his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around Jungkook's waist as if afraid to let go. Jungkook froze for a moment, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions. He stared at Taehyung’s relaxed face, taking in the softness of his features, the way his lashes rested against his cheeks.

A lump formed in Jungkook’s throat, and tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn’t stop the ache in his chest as the events from the previous day replayed in his mind. "You look so peaceful," Jungkook whispered shakily, his voice barely audible. "So innocent, like nothing ever happened." He paused, a tear slipping down his cheek. "But why, Hyungie? Why did you leave me standing there like that? You said I mattered to you… but you still walked away. How could you hurt me like that?"

His voice cracked as he let out a soft, bitter laugh. "I hate you for what you did," he muttered under his breath. But as the words left his lips, his tone softened. "No... I don’t hate you. I can’t, no matter how much I try. Even after everything, I still love you. And I hate myself for that... for loving you so much, Hyungie."

His chest tightened as more tears fell. Unable to hold back his emotions, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Taehyung’s crown, his lips lingering for a moment. "I love you hyungie," he whispered against his hair, his voice filled with both pain and tenderness.

For a while, Jungkook stayed there, just watching Taehyung sleep. He didn’t want to disturb him, but the weight of his emotions was too much to bear. Gently, he moved Taehyung’s head from his chest and placed it on the pillow. His fingers lingered on Taehyung’s hair for a moment before he finally pulled away and stood up. Quietly, he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up, splashing cold water on his face to hide any signs of his tears.

Once ready, Jungkook left the room and walked to the dining area. As he entered, he saw Prem and Fluke already sitting at a table, chatting and laughing over breakfast. Their cheerful energy felt like a stark contrast to the heaviness in Jungkook’s heart.

"Morning, Kookie!" Prem greeted with a bright smile, waving him over. "Come join us!"

Jungkook nodded silently and took a seat, offering a small smile in return. Fluke looked at him curiously. "You look tired," he said gently. "Did you not sleep well?"

Jungkook shook his head, trying to sound casual. "Just... had a lot on my mind."

Prem and Fluke exchanged a glance but didn’t push further. Instead, Prem clapped his hands together, trying to brighten the mood. "So, we’ve decided to go to the beach again this morning. It’s our last chance to enjoy it before we leave this evening."

Fluke nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it’s our last day here! We can’t miss one more round of fun at the beach."

Jungkook tried to muster some excitement but could only manage a faint nod. "That sounds nice," he said softly.

Prem leaned closer, studying Jungkook’s expression. "Are you sure you’re okay, Kookie? You don’t have to come if you’re not feeling up to it. But if you do, it might help you clear your mind a bit."

Fluke smiled warmly. "Yeah, the ocean’s always good for that. Plus, we’d love to have you with us."

Jungkook felt a small wave of gratitude for their kindness. "I’ll think about it," he said, his voice slightly steadier.

He tried to focus on their cheerful chatter, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Taehyung. He wondered if Taehyung would even notice if he wasn’t there at the beach. The weight of his emotions clung to him, making it hard to decide whether he wanted to join the others or stay behind and deal with his tangled feelings alone.